The NDMTSS Conference is held annually in June and is a joint effort between the South East Education Cooperative and the Central Regional Education Association. Our Conference Planning Committee consists of regional education association staff, district-level MTSS Coordinators, Special Education directors, Department of Public Instruction staff, and additional experts from the region. This group works collaboratively to bring the hot topics, needs, and wants from the field in order to create and develop a GREAT experience every year ensuring you get the quality professional learning you NEED and DESERVE!
We hope you take advantage of this conference to expand your own network of support by meeting and learning with others from across the state and across the country on how to further develop systems that support all learners academically, socially, emotionally, and behaviorally.
Please see below for additional information and links to upcoming and past conferences.
2022 Keynote Speakers
Dr. Tessie Rose Bailey is the PROGRESS Center project director. In addition to this role, she serves as a national expert in special education, transition, and MTSS/RTI for states and districts through the National Center on Intensive Intervention and the National Center for Systemic Improvement as well as several state contracts. Prior to her current work, she served as a university faculty member, education consultant, and classroom special education teacher. Dr. Bailey has conducted hundreds of professional learning workshops and presentations on effective instruction and assessment practices for struggling students and students with disabilities, MTSS/RTI, special education law and policy, and transition services. She has developed tools and conducted national webinars related to academic IEP goal setting, the Endrew decision, and intensive intervention. She completed her PhD at the University of Utah in special education and did postdoctoral work in MTSS/RTI and secondary transition at Lehigh University’s Center for Promoting Research to Practice.
Known as ‘The Connection Coach,’ Tara Brown believes strongly that kids are committed to people – not programs – and that a key to reaching youth is through the power of positive connections. As an award-winning educator, author and speaker, Tara understands connecting with diverse populations, building relationships and getting the most out of any youth organization. She is recognized as a leading expert in helping adults better understand how to build powerful connections with today’s youth. Tara’s 25+ year journey as a teacher and coach has taken her from rural Florida, to gang territory in North Long Beach, CA, and to one of the largest high schools in Tennessee with students representing over 36 countries. Her international engagements include Dubai and Beirut. Since founding Learner’s Edge Consulting in 2007, Tara has been speaking throughout the country and internationally to educators, administrators and youth organizations. In 2009 she was one of two trainers invited to lead The Shadowing Project in Beirut, Lebanon, a program designed to help teens explore their passions, strengths and career goals. Whether in the U.S. or abroad, Tara’s passion and humor continue to drive her work to better equip adults with the ability to connect with youth in order to unleash their true potential. She is committed to strengthening organizations ‘One Connection at a Time.’
Dr. Amanda VanDerHeyden is a policy adviser and thought leader who actively conducts research focused on improving learning outcomes for students. She has served as a standing panel member for NIH, IES at the U.S. Department of Education, an adviser and reviewer for NCII, USAID, the IRIS center, the Dyslexia Foundation, and numerous state departments of education. Dr. VanDerHeyden has authored a number of policy guides and position statements, and delivered testimony on the use of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) MTSS and Response to Intervention (RTI) to identify students for special education. She is credited with developing models of academic screening that are widely used in schools, conducting innovative research in mathematics screening and progress monitoring using mastery measurement, and the creation of SpringMath. Dr. VanDerHeyden is President of Education Research & Consulting in Fairhope, Alabama, and has a faculty affiliation with the Wheelock College of Education at Boston University.
Andratesha Fritzgerald is committed to excellence in education. She has worked as a teacher, curriculum specialist, administrator, and director. As an international speaker, presenter, and facilitator, Fritzgerald exhibits audacious perseverance that calls organizations to evolve into inclusive antiracist safe zones for all learners. With a passion for Universal Design for Learning, Culturally Responsive Teaching, and Antiracism, she has led the charge to craft implementation plans, design lab templates, professional development symposia, and professional practice cadres. She models expert learning while equipping others to do the same.
